Emanuel offers NATO money for anti-violence youth programs

Programs that aim to steer Chicago children away from street violence will benefit from funds left over from the NATO summit, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Sunday.

The initiative, dubbed Youth Working for Success, aims to give a total of $1 million in grants to after-school programs, youth-employment efforts and mentoring services that apply early next year for the money, according to the plan the mayor's office outlined.

The $1 million will come from private and federal money left over from a fund designed to cover the costs the city incurred while hosting the NATO summit in May.

More than $10 million in private donations was left over for the mayor to spend. In October, Emanuel committed about $6 million toward recreational projects. A spokeswoman for the mayor, Tarrah Cooper, said Sunday that about $4 million remains left "to invest in our communities." That figure also includes Chicago Park District capital funds.

Emanuel said the investment announced Sunday targets youths whose chances of involvement in future violence would be higher if they didn't have access to the programs.

"This is what it takes to make sure a community is safe and secure for our children and our families," he said.

The announcement Sunday, also attended by Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, was held at the headquarters of Universidad Popular, a nonprofit group that, among other services, offers programs like yoga and creative writing to children in the South Lawndale and Little Village neighborhoods.

Elio DeArrudah, the group's board president, said its youth services programs have a persistent waiting list that could be whittled down with additional funds.

Also on Sunday, Emanuel said a privatization deal with Midway Airport could still happen. His administration faces a deadline at year's end to be ready to issue requests for qualifications to companies.

The mayor said his staff is looking "at all options."

"We're going to make sure that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past," he said.